Watch.



N0. 7|2,|85. Patented Oct. 28, |902.

W. H. FITZ GERALD.

WATCH.

(Applicltion filed In. 31, 1902.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WALTER H. FITZ GERALD, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TORUBE R. FOGEL, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

WATCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 712,185, dated October28, 1902.

Application filed March 3l, 1902.

To all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER H. FITZ GER- ALD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New York, Brooklyn borough, in

the county of Kings and State of New York have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Watches,which improvements are fully set forth inthe following specification.

In a general sense this invention relates to improvements in mechanicalstructures of that class employed for measuring time and commonly knownas watches, and it relates more particularly to watches in which the x 5movements are reversible and the construction of which is such that eachmay be readily converted from the so-called hunting-case type to theso-called open-face type,or vice versa.

The object of this invention is to provide a watch which shall besimple, inexpensive, and novel as regards construction, which shallembody features of construction whereby the watch-movement shall betelescopically adjustable with respect to the case-center,

thus permitting the employment of a crystal of maximum thickness, at thesame time keeping the thickness ot' the watch asa whole within minimumlimits, which shall be posi- 3o tive and reliable in practical service,and

which shall possess certain well-defined advantages over prior analogousstructures.

The invention consists in the employment of certain parts novel as toform, in the novel disposition and arrangement of the various partsthereof, in certain combinations of the latter, and in certain detailsof construction, all of which will be specifically referred tohereinafter and set forth in the ap- 4o pended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,wherein similar reference-numerals denote like parts throughout theseveral views, and as to said drawings- Figure l is a face view of aWatch embodying my said improvements, the hinged cover thereof beingshown in its open position. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along theline 5o a a of Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2, the movementof the Watch being shown Serial No. 100,686. (No model.)

as having been reversed from the position it occupies in Fig. 2. Fig. 4is a detail perspective View illustrating the movement-ring which I makeuse of under certain condi* tions. Fig. 5 is a detail view illustratingthe lock-spring which I employ.

In a general sense myinvention comprises a watch-case, a watch-movementarranged within the said case, and features of con- 6o struction wherebythe said watch-movement is rendered telescopically adjustable withrespect to the case proper within prescribed limits.

Having reference to the accompanying drawings, the watch thereillustrated comprises primarily a case-center 2, hinged cover 3, pendant4L, bezel 5, and movement-ring 6. The case-center 2 has a continuous orsubstantially continuous channel at its inner 7o side.

7 represents the watch-movement as a whole. This movement is arrangedwithin the ring 6 in any common and approved manner.

The crown 8 fits loosely over the outer end of the pendant 4 and issecurely connected with the outer end of the winding-stem 9, the latterbeing loosely. engaged and retained in its place of service Within thependant 4 by 8o a suitable keeper, as 10. The engagement of the keeper10 with the stem 9 is such that the latter' is free to rock somewhat onthe former, as from the position indicated in Fig.

3 to the position indicated in Fig. 2 of the 85 drawings, or vice versa,and in this operation of the stein 9 the crown 8 moves therewithaccordingly, sufficient play between said crown and the adjacent end ofthe pendant 4 being provided for this purpose. 9o

ll is an intermediate ring let into the channel of the case-center 2,and l2 denotes the lock-spring which I employ, the said lockspring beingof ordinary construction, save that it is provided with an elongatedtrans- 95 verse opening 13. The ring l1 is provided with an opening let,and in this instance the case-center 2 is also provided with an openingl5.

The movement-ring 6 has two elongated roo transverse openings 16 and 17,formed in diametrically opposite segments of said moveconnected with theintermediate ring 11 and projecting inwardly therefrom, conforms inwidth to the diameter of said pivot. Thus the pivot 18 and winding-stem9 serve as trunnions on which the Watch-movement turns when undergoingits reversing action. The openings 14, 13, and 15, by preference, accordin width each with the. opening 17, though they may be somewhat largeror of dilferent form so long as they permit the winding-stem 9 toundergo the rocking movement hereinbefore referred to, as on the keeper10.

19 denotes the crystal of the watch, and when the parts occupy thepositions indicated in Fig. 2 of the drawings this crystal projectssomewhat beyond the bezel 5, and when the parts occupy the positionsshown in Fig. 3 of the drawings the cap 20 tits snugly into the bezel 5,thus completely closing that side of the case of the watch.

It Will be observed that the distance from the outermost point of thecrystal-surface to the center of the watch-movement is greater than thedistance from the center of the watchmovement to the outermost point ofthe cap 20. Therefore if the reversing action of the watch-movement werecontrolled by a fixed axis for such movement it would be impracticableto close the hinged cover 3 without crushing the crystal 19,particularly if the latter should be of substantial thickness andassuming that the parts. occupy the positions indicated in Fig. 3 of thedrawings. The usual method of overcoming this objectionable feature isto increase the dish of the cover 3, and accordingly increase thethickness of the watch as a whole, with the further objectionable resultof giving to the watch a lopsided appearance. I overcome the foregoingobjections by providing parts and features of construction substantiallyas herein described and whereby the watch-movement is renderedtelescopically adjustable with respect to the case proper.

In practice where the movement-ring 6 is employed this accompanies thewatch-movement 7 in the latters shifting or telescopic action withrespect to the watch-case proper, and this action on the part of thewatch-movement is permitted by reason of the openings 16 and 17 beingsuitably shaped to this end.

In operation, assuming that the parts occupy the positions indicated iuFig. 2 of the drawings, where they are positioned to form a so-calledopen-face7 watch, and the user desires to convert such watch into aso-called hunting-case watch, it is only necessary to open the cover 3,turn the dial or crystal side of the watch uppermost, thus allowing themovement 7, with the ring 6, Where the latter is used, to descendsomewhat as by gravity,

whereupon the movement 7and ring 6, if the latter be employed, may bereversed, so as to present the cap 20 to the bezel 5. Then if the Watchis properly positioned the watchmovement and the ring containing it willfall as by gravity to the positions shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings,under which conditions the cap 20 enters the-bezel 5 and serves as aclosure member for that side of the watchcase,while the dial or crystalside of the movement7 is in-its usual position in the so-calledhunting-case type of watches.

Any suitable and approved fastening device or devices may be employedfor locking the watch-movement against its reversing action, as whenbrought to the position shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings or to theposition shown in Fig-3 of the drawings.

The engagement of the inner end of the Winding-stem 9 with the arbor 21is such that while ample play is left to permit the telescopic action ofthe movement 7, herein referred to, the joint action of said stem withsaid arbor, as for winding purposes, is not objectionably affected.

It will be seen that my improvements are particularly well adapted :forthe purposes for which they are intended, and, further, that theconstruction herein shown and described may be modified to some extentwithout materially departing from the spirit and principle of myinvention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A watch comprising a case and awatchmovement, the latter beingpivoted within the case for reversing action, thus converting anopen-face into a hunting-case Watch, or vice versa, said movement beingadjustable with respect to the case in a direction at right angles tothe planes of the faces by direct longitudinal movement,withinprescribed limits.

2. A watch comprising a case, a movementring, and a watch-movement, thesaid move- IOO IIO

ment-ring being pivoted within the case, the

said watch-movement being arranged within the said ring, and said ringand watch-movement being jointly adjustable in a direction at rightangles to the planes of the faces of the case by direct longitudinalmovement.

3. A watch comprising a case,a watch-movement embodying a Winding-arborand being arranged within the case; and av windingstem, the lattermovable in radial planes and engaging at its inner end saidWinding-arbor, the said watch-movement being adjustable in a directionat right angles to the planes of the faces of said case by directlongitudinal movement.

4. A watch comprisinga case, amovelnentring, a watch-movement embodyinga winding-arbor, the said movement-ring being arranged within the case,the said watch-movement being arranged within said ring, and said ringand watch-movement being jointly adjustable in a direction at rightangles to the planes of the faces of the case by direct longitudinalmovement; and a winding stem movable in radial planes, extending throughsaid movement-ring, and engaging at its inner end the Winding-arboraforenamed.

5. A watch comprising a case and a watchmovement, the latter beingpivoted for reversing action within the case-center and for limitedadjustment in a direction at right angles to the planes of the faces ofsaid case by direct longitudinal movement.

6. A watch comprisinga case, amovementring, and a watch-movement, thesaid ring being pivoted for reversing action within the case-center andfor a limited adjustment in a direction at right angles to the planes ofthe faces of the case by direct longitudinalmovement, and saidwatch-movement being arranged within said ring.

7. A watch comprising a case,a Watch-movement pivoted for reversingaction within the case-center, and parts intermediate of said case andmovement whereby the latter may undergo both a reversing action withinthe case-center and a. limited adjustment in a direction at right anglesto the planes of the faces of said case by direct longitudinal movement.

8. In combination, in a watch, a watch-case having a hinged cover at oneside anda bezel at the opposite side, a movement-ring Within said case,a capped watch-movement arranged Within and accompanying said ring inthe latters movements, and pivots intermediate of said movement-ring andsaid case whereby said ring may undergo both a, reversing action Withinthe case-center and a limited adjustment in a direction at right anglesto the planes of the faces of said case by direct longitudinal movement.

WALTER. H. FITZ GERALD.

Witnesses:

W. H. RUBY, JOHN BERGESEN.

